To all ----
One of 'us' has suffered a tragedy and needs some help.
http://www.helenair.com/articles/2006/12/02/helena_top/a01120206_04.txtKen ran a 16-1 GM-90 on WVO for his power and is a dedicated do it yourselfer that's in need of some support.
I urge all to do what you can. Addresses at the bottom--
Blaze destroys home
By EVE BYRON - IR Staff Writer - 12/02/06
George Lane IR Staff Photographer - Firefighters with the Montana City Volunteer Fire Department hose down the last remaining hot spots. For the second time in his life, Ken Gardner’s home was destroyed by fire.
Gardner lost his first home during the Warm Springs Creek fire in 1988. On Friday, the house he shares with his wife, Jodi, and four children on Strawberry Lookout Road, south of Montana City, burned to the ground.
All that is left are a few blackened, standing walls from a nearby shed, the home’s rock foundation, and a swing set in the back yard. Tires smoldered on a small tractor, as firefighters pulled apart the rubble to make sure all the hot spots were hit with water. One of Gardner’s dogs suffered minor burns, and the family’s two cats died.
Montana City Volunteer Fire Chief Rick Abraham said they were paged out about 9 a.m., and the structures were “fully involved” when they arrived at the rural home. No one was home at the time.
“We received a cell phone call reporting a structure fire,” Abraham said. “But it took us a long time to get here, because of the weather conditions and it was a long way from the fire station.”
The road to the home, past the Saddle Mountain subdivision, was snowpacked and icy, with temperatures hovering in the upper 20s.
Officials are investigating the cause of the fire.
“Everyone who knows Ken said he was extremely careful with fire, and the cause is undetermined at this time,” said Karen Semple, public information officer for the Montana City VFD. “This was a log house that they had recently put an addition on.”
She added that Gardner was recently laid off when the Montana Tunnels mine was temporarily closed, and he had no insurance on his home. The family, including two girls, age 16 and 13, and two boys, age 2 ½ and 5 months, are temporarily staying at a Montana City hotel.
The Red Cross is assisting the family.
Semple said the Montana City VFD is putting together a benefit for the Gardners. Donations can be sent to the Ken and Jodi Gardner Benefit Fund, 9 Bankers Lane, Montana City, MT 59634. Donations also are being accepted at the Boulder Bank.
Montana City firefighters were aided by volunteers from the Clancy, Eastgate and Lewis and Clark County fire departments, with about 25 people responding to the fire call.
Info box: The Montana City VFD is putting together a benefit for the Gardners. Donations can be sent to the Ken and Jodi Gardner Benefit Fund, 9 Bankers Lane, Montana City, MT 59634. Donations also are being accepted at the Boulder Bank.
